The United States announced the AUKUS

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Minister Scott Morrison in Paris on his return from the G7 summit in England to discuss several topics including ongoing issues with the project. This meeting was such a success, from a French point of view, that it was reported under headings like “The contract of the century is saved”. Did something get lost in the translation, even though Macron speaks pretty good English? Or has the Anglo-American offer of nuclear submarine technology come as a real surprise to Australians?

and ammunition on Macron’s domestic political opponents in the year following a presidential election, and while this is unlikely to really influence the outcome, he will not forget it. certainly not. Could that, or French resentment more generally, be a problem for Australia? France as an Indo-Pacific power is a lot like what Gandhi is supposed to have said about Western civilization: that would be a good idea. But one of the reasons Australia signed the now infamous submarine deal with France is that France has a genuine interest in the region.

The French, rightly or wrongly, will now see Uncle Sam’s long phone number library arm in all the events that led to the decision to terminate the contract.

Of course, “the Indo-Pacific space is a geographical reality for France”. This apparently tautological statement, taken from the introduction of the French Indo-Pacific Strategy Document 2018, refers to the fact that 93% of France’s exclusive economic zone – the largest in the world – is located in the Indian or Pacific Ocean, while around 1.5 million French citizens and 8,000 military personnel reside there on French territories. Indeed, the curious term “Indo-Pacific” was perhaps coined to give weight to France’s claim to be more than a European power, and perhaps an African one. None of the French overseas territories, taken in isolation, represent much in terms of power politics, but taken together they at least seem to add to the potential to play a real role in the region.

Of course, Australia’s generally very good relationship with France hinges on much more than the submarine deal, and like everyone else in any balancing coalition against China, that will be in the best interest. personal – or not – that will really push France to participate. inside.